From the shadows: Exhibit reveals secret stories of Special Forces soldiers

You rarely hear their stories and almost never know their names, but for more than 70 years, Australia's special operations forces have been fighting in some of the world's most dangerous battlefields.

Now, a new exhibition at the Australian War Memorial will attempt to give Australians an idea of what it's like in the shadows.

"They can't tell their story but we can tell their story and we have a responsibility to do it," War Memorial director Brendan Nelson said.

"Those men are returning to a country that has no idea, absolutely no idea, about what they do."

The exhibit features more than 600 pieces. (9NEWS) ()Accompanying the exhibit is never-before-seen vision showing the danger of these missions. (9NEWS ()

The exhibit features more than 600 pieces, documenting clandestine battles throughout Asia, the Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.

It officially launches this evening but some of our current special operations personnel have already toured the exhibit.

"These are not emotional people, but we have had emotion revealed as they have quietly walked through these galleries," Dr Nelson said.